The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-09-07
THE ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS,


From the Providence Journal
II a visible line could be drawn between
the successful and unsuccessful men of our
generation we should be surprised in see
ing how much the larger proportion are
upon the wrong side. The majority of
men are failures. Every profession and
avenue OF business is crowded with them.
And thisis the more surprising when we
see how easily others appear to succeed,
thing to attain. 1t is easy, If
only few simple laws are obeyed. 1t is
not a matter of luck, but of merit. In the
long run man earns what he gets, and il
be fails it is because he has earned failure.
The exceptions of this Just law of God are
less numerous than they appear. II We
could see the hidden causes, we should
find that the lucky accident has come to
the man who from some peculiar merit
deserved it. The unlucky man has always
to explain how he happened to be in the
way of ill-luck, and the explanation is
usually an accusation. Nature in the
main follows Napoleon's maxim, and gives
the tools to him who can use them, and
is not slow in taking them away from him
who can not. Failure for the most part
means that man is trying to use tools
that he W. s never intended to handle
and that he should lose no time in getting
hold Of others-sometimes a higher class
of implements, but too often very much
lower. Nature evidently never meant that
Grant should be tanner, nor that Richie
lieu should be poet, having very different
work for both. Precisely so it is through
all the departments of life. A man has
his work appointed him before he is born.
The first requisite of success, theretora,is
the right choice OF an occupation. Nature
makes few mistakes, aud she has fitted
every one for some special work in life
ffWhat Il fitted for pr 10 har r1oe f
tial question man has to answer. An
swered correctly one will have natures
assistance in everything he does, and his
work will be done easily, and without any
needless friction; answered wrongly and
he will have her continual opposition and
protest, until he is an apparent, if not a
self-coniessed failure. There was a deep
truth in the old demand that q candidate
| for the ministry should be called; but such
call is always q natural one, and consists
| in fitness. The same call is made from all
| directions. Called to be a priest forever
| is not truer of one than called to be a mer-
| chant, general, editor or statesman, was of
Stewart. Grant, Katkoff or Edmund Burke,
and they would have had little success
without the call. Even if called to be a
newer of stone or drawer of
water, mans highest possible
success lies in going where he is
called. 1t is for lack of needing this that
| we have the Incompetence and failure so
frequent in life, men vainly tryiDg to do
| what they were not meant to do, and only
| learning in the bitter school OF experience
that no success is possible there. The
| highest aim of education ought TO be TO
( teach young man what he is best fitted
| for. No man is educated until he has
/ learned this. Many never learn it. having TO
learn, however, by very severe dis
cipline, what they are not fitted for.
Another essential element of success is
faithfulnets. The practical world puts
| premium upon good workmanship. This
| quality alone is well-nlgh sufficient to lead
| any one into the highest positions in lie.
1t msy be safely said that every business
man is at all times on the watch for persons
who can invariably be trusted to do work
well. Especially is this true of positions
OF honor and trust. They are open to him
who in some lower sphere has
proved himself trustworthy. Any one
who shows even an average capacity
| for his work and will do it with absolute
faithfulness, equally attentive to small
details will speedily find the day too short
for the honorable and remuuerative work
that men invite HIM TO do. 1t is at all times
false that there is no work to be found. Only
for the untrustworthy there is no employ
| ment, and ought to be none. Plenty of
work with good wages and increasing pros
perity are the certain rewards OF faithful
ress. Let any young man start in life
with the determination TO put the best that
be has into the discharge of every duty and
some of the best things in life will eventu-
ally become his own. There Is still room
at The top" and faithfulness is one OF the
essential conditions of ascent.
Nor can any one succeed at last in any
sphere of life without degree of piety, in
its order and more beautiful sense OF habit
ual reverence toward nature and her laws.
This is not the teaching of the Christian
religion only, but equally OF all religion
and the experience of mankind. The ele-
ments of success are moral mainly,
and absolute obedience to moral laws
is essential TO the pressrva-
ton of a clear head and sound judgment.
Whoever is not obedient will sooner or Ia
ter find that he has been sowing the wind
only to reap a whirlwind, which will mar
if not wreck his fortunes when he least ex-
poets. What the mass of men most need
to learn that is the elements of success aud
failure both lie in themselves. Either one is
within our reach; the one bearing immense
rewards, and the other terrible penalties.